Great Scott! Williams Ices It

Joins Jordan As Hero In Edging 76ers

March 09, 1992|By Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune.

PHILADELPHIA — They have an owner who thought he was getting into the bowling alley business when the team picked up backup center Manute Bol. They have a center, Jeff Ruland, whose knee might as well be made of nacho cheese topping. And they have one of the few superstars in sports, Charles Barkley, who makes Pete Rose feel good about himself.

So it was no surprise once again that it was a surreal afternoon here Sunday for the Bulls, who came from 12 down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-99.

The Bulls, though, had to rely on reserve Scott Williams to rescue the game with a layup off a loose-ball scramble with 24 seconds left.

Then they watched as Barkley unsuccessfully tried to tie the game with a three-point shot that his coach criticized, prompting an irritated Barkley to suggest that he be traded.

``It`s always a challenge, always tough to come in here and play,`` said Michael Jordan after the game at the Spectrum, where the Bulls had lost two straight and six of their last seven before Sunday.

``They play with so much intensity against us,`` said Jordan, who led the Bulls with 34 points (11 in the final quarter), 11 rebounds and eight assists. ``They`ve got talent, but it`s a matter of being motivated, and it seems every time we come in here, they challenge us very well.``

That they did, controlling the game behind Barkley`s 29 points and 14 rebounds plus 19 points each from Hersey Hawkins and Armon Gilliam. They led 57-52 at halftime, 86-79 after three quarters and 92-80 with 7:32 left.

``It was not looking good,`` said Bulls coach Phil Jackson. ``We were working right on the edge of destruction there with a couple of 10-point deficits in the second half. Things were clicking for them, and we couldn`t find a way to make free throws.

``So we just told the guys to hang in there, to play the hard defense-we did put some pressure on upcourt, and they couldn`t get into the offense they wanted-and let`s get ourselves going offensively.``

The Bulls did that behind Jordan, who started slashing to the basket and denying Hawkins the ball. ``We tried to get it into him, but Jordan was overplaying,`` said 76ers coach Jim Lynam.

``We changed the momentum of the game because of our defense,`` said Jordan.

The Bulls also forced Philadelphia into four turnovers in four minutes after the 76ers went up by 12. Then the Bulls went on to score in 12 straight possessions on a 16-1 run to take their first lead since midway through the second quarter with just over three minutes left in the game. And they held the 76ers to seven points and just one basket in the last 7:32.

But it was left to Williams, averaging only 9.6 minutes a game, to play the entire fourth quarter and make two key plays down the stretch.

With the Bulls ahead 98-97 with 59 seconds left, Williams rebounded a Jordan miss, was fouled and hit two free throws. Then after Barkley rebounded a Johnny Dawkins miss, was fouled and hit two free throws to cut the Bulls`

lead to 100-99 with :39 left, Williams picked up a loose ball after a pass to Horace Grant got away and put it in.

``He was the reason we won today,`` said Jackson after Williams had gotten seven points and six rebounds. ``Outside of Michael`s scoring, he was the next story to be written about, how he did a great job offensively and defensively, picking up things, going to the line and shooting well.``

``I was just kind of in the right place at the right time, trying to work hard in the backcourt and trap my man and just trying to make a difference with my hustle,`` said Williams.

Moments later Barkley, who had played brilliantly in holding Scottie Pippen to 15 points and a season-low one rebound, launched a three-point attempt with :22 left.

``Ill-advised,`` mumbled Lynam, saying the plan was to try for a two-point basket inside and then try to steal a pass.

Barkley wasn`t mumbling when advised of Lynam`s criticism.

``Everything I do is wrong,`` said Barkley. ``It`s a no-win situation. If I hit that shot, everyone would be congratulating me. But if you don`t like it, you can . . . get me out of town. I do things my way.``